STUDIES ON CHEYNE-STOKES RESPIRATION

Abstract

Cheyne-Stokes respiration is characterized by rhythmic changes in breathing in which periods of respiratory pause alternate with periods of slowly increasing and decreasing respiratory activity. It may be accompanied by phasic variations in the functions of the heart, nervous system and other organs, and has more recently been found to be asso- ciated with periodic variation in the concentration of the gases in the blood. It occurs as a symptom in diseases of the heart and kidneys especially, in meningitis and in encephalitis, and in certain intoxications such as morphine poisoning and oxygen lack. The development of this type of breathing has been ascribed to many causes-disturbances in the gaseous exchange in the lungs, of the circulation, of the activity of the respiratory and vasomotor centers and to so-called sub-cortical influences. Objections to all these hypotheses have been entered with the result that no satisfactory understanding of the subject has been attained. It is of value, therefore, to record further observations of Cheyne-Stokes respiration and its attendant or resultant phenomena.